LIFE AFTER SERVICE OF NIGERIAN MILITARY VETERANS (A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIAN LEGION LAGOS STATE COMMAND)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The purpose of this research is to shed light on the post-service life of veterans of the Nigerian military, with a special emphasis on the Nigerian Legion Lagos State Command. In reference to fact, the existence of a soldier is marked by bravery and dedication; yet, what happens to these highly respected individuals once they have completed their service? After serving their country for a number of years, many soldiers find themselves in the position of having to navigate the difficulties of civilian life. In this state, the skills and discipline that they have earned throughout their time in the military  not always appear to be effective. In a number of countries, veterans are accorded the respect and help that they are entitled to; nevertheless, in Nigeria, there are concerns that these courageous individuals are frequently disregarded, and they are forced to contend with challenges for which they are not fully equipped.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the varied experiences of these veterans and to investigate the challenges they face as they transition from life in the military to life in civilian society. In addition, this research explores the existing support systems that are designed to aid them and evaluates whether or not these systems are sufficient to meet their expectations. The Nigerian Legion Lagos State Command will serve as the subject of this case study, which will serve as a framework for evaluating these concerns and providing light on the more general experiences of Nigerian veterans. According to Smith (2018) and Adewale (2020), researchers from 2014 to 2024 have made tremendous strides in improving our understanding of veteran reintegration. Despite this, there are still substantial gaps in the literature, particularly with regard to the Nigerian setting, which is the focus of this work.The purpose of this research is to shed light on the post-service life of veterans of the Nigerian military, with a special emphasis on the Nigerian Legion Lagos State Command. In point of fact, the existence of a soldier is marked by bravery and dedication; yet, what happens to these highly respected persons once they have completed their duties? There are a great number of people who, after spending years serving their nation, find themselves in the position of having to navigate the complexity of civilian life. In this situation, the abilities and discipline that they have acquired may not necessarily be useful. In a number of countries, veterans are accorded the respect and help that they are entitled to; nevertheless, in Nigeria, there are concerns that these courageous individuals are frequently disregarded, and they are forced to contend with challenges for which they are not fully equipped.

This study analyses the varied experiences of these veterans and investigates the challenges they confront as they transition from life in the military to life in civilian society. In addition, this research explores the existing support systems that are designed to aid them and evaluates whether or not these systems are sufficient to meet their expectations. In addition to shedding insight on the more general experiences of Nigerian veterans, the investigation of the Nigerian Legion Lagos State Command will provide a focused perspective on these topics. However, there are still gaps in the literature, particularly with regard to the Nigerian context, which the current research intends to fill (Smith, 2018; Adewale, 2020). Researchers from 2014 to 2024 have made major contributions to our understanding of veteran reintegration as a result of their work.

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

This research aims to tackle a significant issue: the difficulties encountered by Nigerian military veterans in their lives after service. Despite their extensive experience, numerous veterans often struggle to manage the intricacies of civilian life. The shift from the disciplined setting of the military to the more flexible civilian world presents numerous challenges, including issues such as unemployment, financial instability, and mental health concerns. Furthermore, the mechanisms intended to provide assistance to these veterans seem to fall short in both effectiveness and accessibility. Therefore, the issue this research will tackle is the insufficiency of current support systems for Nigerian military veterans, particularly concentrating on the Nigerian Legion Lagos State Command. The research further examines how these shortcomings contribute to the difficulties veterans encounter during their transition to civilian life (Ojo, 2019; Thompson, 2022).

1.3 Research Objectives

This study pursue three primary objectives:

1. To explore the challenges faced by Nigerian military veterans in their transition to civilian life.

2. To assess the effectiveness of the support systems available to veterans in Nigeria, with a focus on the Nigerian Legion Lagos State Command.

3. To provide recommendations for enhancing the support provided to Nigerian military veterans.

 

 

1.4 Research Questions

The study is guided by the following research questions:

1. What are the key challenges faced by Nigerian military veterans in their transition to civilian life?

2. How effective are the existing support systems in addressing the needs of these veterans?

3. What measures can be taken to improve the reintegration of Nigerian military veterans into civilian life?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

The study  test the following null hypotheses:

Ho1: There is no significant relationship between the challenges faced by Nigerian military veterans and their ability to successfully reintegrate into civilian life.

Ho2: The effectiveness of existing support systems has no significant impact on the well-being of Nigerian military veterans.

Ho3: The level of support provided to veterans has no significant effect on their overall quality of life.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The findings of this study are extremely important for decision-makers in government, military institutions, and organisations that represent civil society. The results of this research not only offer a greater knowledge of the predicament that Nigerian veterans of the military are in, but they also provide insights into how their requirements might be better satisfied. This study will also emphasise the specific issues that veterans in Lagos State confront, which may serve as a microcosm of the larger Nigerian experience. With a focus on the Nigerian Legion Lagos State Command, this study will aim to highlight these challenges. According to Bello (2021) and Nwankwo (2023), the recommendations that are presented in this study will serve to shape policies that are intended to improve the support that is offered to veterans. This will result in an improvement in the veterans' quality of life and will ensure that their contribution to the nation is appropriately recognised and acknowledged.

1.7 Scope and Delimitations

The experiences of Nigerian military veterans who are members of the Nigerian Legion Lagos State Command are the primary topic of this research study. The scope of this study will be limited to Lagos State because there is where the Nigerian Legion is most active. On the other hand, the conclusions of this study may have wider-reaching ramifications for veterans across the entirety of Nigeria. In addition, the scope of the study will be restricted to veterans who have been discharged from the military for a duration of at least five years. This time frame allows for an adequate amount of time to evaluate the veterans' ability to readjust to civilian life.

1.8 Structure of the study

The following is the organisational framework of this study: The first chapter of the study is an introduction to the research project, which includes the history of the investigation, a statement of the problem, research objectives, research questions, hypotheses, significance, and scope. The second chapter provides a review of the existing literature, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of veterans of the armed forces, the difficulties they encounter, and the support systems that are available to them. This chapter provides an overview of the methodology that was utilised in the research project. This methodology include the research design, population and sampling, data gathering methods, and data analysis methodologies. Presented in Chapter 4 are the findings of the study, as well as a discussion of the findings. Chapter 5 concludes the study by presenting conclusions and recommendations based on the findings of the research, as well as proposals for further research.